MOTORISTS were today warned that some second-hand tyres on sale in North Yorkshire are so dangerous they could cause a fatal accident.

The warning follows a survey by trading standards officers which revealed that 40 per cent of used tyres failed to comply with safety requirements.

And 90 per cent did not meet statutory marking requirements.

A cause of further concern was the revelation that 30 per cent contained structural defects which could have led to a sudden loss of pressure while on the road.

Stuart Pudney, head of trading standards and regulatory services in North Yorkshire, said: "Some of the tyres we examined were so dangerous they could have caused a very serious accident - possibly a fatal one."

Mr Pudney said the problem with part-worn tyres was that their history was unknown.

"They may have been involved in an accident, or they may have been previously damaged and incompetently repaired," he said.

"Many part-worn tyres are imported from other European countries where motorists are often more conscious of the need for good tyres and change them sooner.

"Instead of being recycled or properly disposed of in the country of origin they are exported and sold in the UK."

Mr Pudney said the tyres represented poor value for money - excluding balancing the average price for one is £10.50.

Based on the depth of tread on the tyres the cost per millimetre of useable tread was almost twice the cost of a new retreaded tyre which costs about £15.

"Motorists should think very carefully before buying part-worn or second-hand tyres," said Mr Pudney.

Peter Taylor, of the Tyre Industry Council, said he fully supported the enforcement of tyre safety regulations.

"The findings of the North Yorkshire survey are typical nationally and it is important that the regulations are complied with, so anyone buying part-worn tyres can do so in the knowledge that the tyres are safe," he said.